AGENDA #6k
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Potential Installation of Portable Toilets in Town Parks
DATE: June 14, 2004
At the Council’s May 19, 2004 Budget Work Session, the Council asked for information related to providing portable toilets at Town parks during the annual winter shutdown of restroom facilities.
The 2002 Parks and Recreation Master Plan includes the following core recommendation:
“Provide at least one all-season restroom in each neighborhood park and two each in each community park. Partially implement this goal by upgrading some of the existing restrooms as appropriate. Build new toilets near use areas such as play areas, picnic areas, and athletic complexes”.
At its December 17, 2003 meeting, the Parks and Recreation Commission voted unanimously (9-0) to make specific recommendations to the Council regarding the 2004-19 Capital Improvements Program. The recommendations included the following statement related to restrooms:
“Without question, the single largest complaint received by the Parks and Recreation Department concerns the lack of winterized restroom facilities in any Town park. Despite often mild winter temperatures, residents are unable to make use of the play areas in parks, including Homestead, North Forest Hills, and Umstead Parks from November through March due to lack of access to restroom facilities.”
At its April 21, 2004 meeting, the Parks and Recreation Commission discussed the preliminary Capital Improvements Program. The Commission voted unanimously (7-0) to forward recommendations to the Council that included the following:
“The Commission regrets that the preliminary program for FY04-05 does not include funding to begin winterizing park restroom facilities. This continues to be the number one complaint the Parks and Recreation Department receives from citizens regarding park facilities.”
The Council discussed this issue at its May 19 Budget Work Session and asked the staff to provide budget options that could allow for the provision of portable restrooms at some parks through the winter months.
Park facilities in the piedmont of North Carolina are generally well used in the winter months. Because day time temperatures are frequently pleasant during the fall, winter, and spring months use of parks in Chapel Hill is probably higher at this time than in the mid-summer months. Unfortunately, the risk of freezing temperatures requires us to close the restrooms in some of our most popular parks from November through late April. The lack of winterized restroom facilities in our park system is the single largest generator of complaints related to facilities received by the Parks and Recreation Department staff.
The Town provides all season restroom facilities at the following park locations:
The following parks have restrooms that are closed from November through late April:
Use of Portable Toilets: If the Council decides to fund the use of portable toilets we would recommend using handicap accessible units with hand washing stations. We believe that the higher levels of public use of Homestead, Umstead, and Cedar Falls Parks would warrant the use of two portable toilets at each of those sites if funds allow.
Budget Issues: The annual shutdown of permanent toilet facilities lasts about 5 months. Each unit would cost about $185 per month with two cleanings per week. This cost could be reduced to $125 per month with only one cleaning per week. Following are several options for providing portable toilets:
Option A – Two toilets at the most popular parks with two cleanings per week
Homestead Park (2)
Umstead Park (2)
Cedar Falls Park (2)
Ephesus Park (1)
North Forest Hills Park (1)
Cost: $7,400
Option B – One toilet at each park with two cleanings per week
Homestead Park (1)
Umstead Park (1)
Cedar Falls Park (1)
Ephesus Park (1)
North Forest Hills Park (1)
Cost: $4,625
Option C – One toilet at each park with one cleaning per week
Homestead Park (1)
Umstead Park (1)
Cedar Falls Park (1)
Ephesus Park (1)
North Forest Hills Park (1)
Cost: $3,125
RECOMMENDATION
That the Council adopt the attached resolution, authorizing the Manager to use $7,400 in FY 2004-05 for portable toilets in Town parks.
The Manager’s recommended budget now includes $7,400 to provide for two portable toilets at Cedar Falls, Homestead and Umstead Parks and one portable toilet at North Forest Hills and Ephesus Parks from November through April (Option A above).
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MANAGER TO USE $7,400 IN FY 2004-05 FOR PORTABLE TOILETS IN TOWN PARKS (2004-06-14/R-20)
WHEREAS, Town parks are heavily used during the period November through April; and
WHEREAS, some Town park restroom facilities are closed during the colder months to prevent damage to pipes;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Manager is authorized to use $7,400 in FY 2004-05 for portable toilets in Town parks, more specifically described as Option A in the Manager’s Memorandum to the Council dated June 14, 2004:
Option A – Two toilets at the most popular parks with two cleanings per week
Homestead Park (2)
Umstead Park (2)
Cedar Falls Park (2)
Ephesus Park (1)
North Forest Hills Park (1)
.
This the 14th day of June, 2004.